Life changing AUT Edge Award

They contributed to social enterprise Eat My Lunch, worked with Sustainable Coastlines to make our environment cleaner, led clubs, made new students feel welcome during orientation and innovated with social media.

These activities were just some of the volunteering efforts undertaken by the 33 students that successfully completed the AUT Edge Award in December 2017.

“The AUT Edge Award went beyond my expectations, in fact, it became a self-discovery journey adding immense value to my Bachelor's degree,” says Carolina Leguizamon (centre left).

Zubaida Jawadi says she experienced huge professional growth through the AUT Edge Award.

“I have learnt to not be fearful and to leap out of my comfort zone in situations that challenge my anxiety of speaking to new people," says Zubaida (right).

Recognising her ability to contribute as an introvert was a big learning for another student, Laura Toulmin (below left).

.“I have recognised that although I’m an introvert type, I am able to contribute in more personal ways, offering an entirely different set of skills and confidences to students’ experience at university. This is important in helping me to recognise and embrace my own personality and how I relate to others.”

Other Award graduates cite the Award as a game changer that opened their eyes to the difference networking makes, helped them overcome a fear of public speaking and developed their employability skills.

When Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack congratulated the awardees, he acknowledged these gains, telling them the Award demonstrated their high level of ‘C’ skills to employers.

“The AUT Edge Award adds more emphasis to your university learning and makes a very positive impact on people who take it.”

Director of Employability Anna Williams says the contribution to the community from AUT Edge Award students is huge. In just 18 months, AUT Edge students have completed over 13,000 volunteer hours in the community as well as 5,000 hours of leadership and challenge.

“This is a huge contribution by AUT students to Auckland and I’m not only proud of each individual  but of the collective different AUT students are making to the community.”

Written by Angela McCarthy, AUT employability and careers writer